In the middle of… Astoria
(Illustration: Marc Herold)
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As the oldest American settlement west of the Rocky Mountains, Astoria still attracts a colorful crowd today. In a restaurant with Norwegian cuisine, the woman behind the counter devotes herself to a man in a chatty mood: Like him, she comes from the South, from Tennessee. She moved to Oregon years ago, and he’s considering doing the same. She advises him unreservedly, she feels much freer here. The decisive factor was an argument just because she once used “the bad F-word”. The man nods, he knows the Shitstorm when he puts “the four letters” in his mouth. Then she frowns: “But my F-word has more letters.” Both exchange confused looks until he dares to ask. It gets quiet, everyone in the room listens intently. Since she is so free and proudly puts it in her mouth: “Feminism.” Claudia Koestler
In the middle of … Vilseck
(Illustration: Marc Herold)
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Sunday evening, the regional express rattles through the Upper Palatinate. Three US soldiers on board on the way to the military training area in Grafenwöhr, until they are slowed down by an announcement in Vilseck: “Due to a broken rail, the journey cannot be continued.” Only in German, which is why they look blank when all the passengers get out. The word “rail replacement service” is laboriously explained to them – only to find out a little later that there is no replacement. “I thought the Germans were so reliable,” grumbles one. In the face of this disillusionment, a pep talk is needed. How about “99 balloons” and the statement that Nena foresaw the launch of Chinese spy objects 40 years ago? After an hour, the soldiers are sure of their lyrics and set off on the long walk to the barracks with their new marching song. Florian Mueller
In the middle of…Mumbai
(Illustration: Marc Herold)
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Anyone who thinks that children’s birthday parties are excessive in this country should take part in an Indian party. In any case, the daughter is seized by a tsunami of endorphins when she sees what her uncle in Mumbai has done for her fourth birthday. He has rented a hall for the assembled relatives, there is a giant unicorn made of balloons, a tattoo artist and a magician with a rabbit in his hat. A professional photographer follows the guests with his camera and keeps shouting “Photo! Photo!” The father of the birthday boy, who has lived in Germany for years, has pulled himself to the brink of madness and calms his nerves with a piece of unicorn cake. He already knows what’s in store for him when there’s only pot banging and egg chasing on his fifth birthday. Franziska Gerlach
You can find more episodes of the “In the middle of …” column here.